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By rawat

Created 10/16/2013 - 00:44

Renewable Energy
Newsletter

Date: Apriil 2013

Dear Reader,

In this seventh edition of the Renewable Energy (RE) newsletter, RE team brings you the research findings on social and environmental impact of renewable energy. Though renewable energy projects have lower environmental impact as compared to fossil fuel, they do have negative impacts if installed in ecologically sensitive areas without adequate safeguards. Taking cognizance of this fact, the renewable energy sector is in need of mandatory norms and regulations for sustainable growth.

Green Norms for Green Energy

CSE's Renewable Energy team organised a one day conference on ‘Green Norms for Green Energy’ on May 9th, in New Delhi. The meeting discussed the need for increase in renewable energy capacity in the country while creating safeguards to avoid negative environmental and social impacts. It was attended by participants from across the country including NGOs, researchers and other stakeholders.

Our key focus was on small hydro power and wind power. The discussions centred around diversion of long stretches of rivers, fragmentation of forests due to linear intrusion, rapid diversion of several hectares of forest land, and regulatory loopholes. The participants concluded that there is a need for impact assessment and regulations to minimise environmental impact.

CSE also released a draft EIA manual for wind power seeking comments and suggestions from the participants. This would help us in incorporating the views and suggestions of wide range of stakeholders and taking it forward to make EIA for wind power a part of government regulation.

Admitting that renewable energy is expensive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressed on the need for suitable financing solutions in his inaugural address at the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Delhi on April 17. The two-day event was held for the first time in India. He also talked about setting up a national solar energy institute, which would be a global level R&D centre.

Policy analysts say generation-based incentive (GBI) is a better mechanism to finance solar projects. Even the earlier draft policy document released by the ministry in December 2012 notes that the biggest concern with VGF is severing the link with long-term project performance.

The EU is considering anti-dumping duties to prevent the flooding of cheap solar panels in the region. The move follows an investigation launched last September by the European Commission into imports of solar panels and their key components including solar cells and solar wafers originating in China.

Giving a breather to the developers of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) projects in the country, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the project commissioning deadline to ten months from May 9. The seven CSP under phase one of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) are running behind commissioning schedule.

The government of Pakistan has banned air-conditioners in its offices to cope with power shortage. It has also suggested a summer dress code for officials. The ban begins from May 15 and is expected to continue until the energy situation improves.

Financial woes, delay in raw material supply, stall most of the concentrated solar power projects under the National Solar Mission. Reasons for delay in CSP projects are aplenty but the main one is the lack of funds. Most CSP developers have not been able to raise enough money for the projects.